Gene McAdoo

Gene Douglas McAdoo was born on August 24, 1932, to Houston and May Goettsche McAdoo in Canadian Texas. Gene passed from life to Eternal Life on Saturday, October 14, 2023, at his home in Pampa, surrounded by his children.

Services will be at 2:00 PM Saturday, October 21, 2023, at Zion Lutheran Church with Rev. Michael Erickson, pastor, officiating. Burial will follow at Fairview Cemetery under the direction of Carmichael-Whatley Funeral Directors and Crematory.

Gene graduated from Canadian High School in 1951 and then attended West Texas State where he discovered Geology. At the end of the school year, Gene married Esther Hildenbrand on September 7, 1952, at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Lipscomb, Texas. Gene and Esther started their married life in Norman, Oklahoma, where Gene was a student at the University of Oklahoma in Norman studying Geology. Out-of-state tuition led Gene and Esther back to Texas, where Gene attended Texas Western College in El Paso, where they started their family. In July of 1956, Esther gave birth to their first child, Terri McAdoo. After college Gene and Esther returned to Amarillo to find a job. Gene learned about a job in Plainview for the Water Department, which to his surprise, turned out to be with the U.S. Geological Survey. Gene’s job with the U.S. Geological Survey moved them all over Texas during his career. Their son, Brian McAdoo, was born in Stamford.

Gene was transferred to the Texas Panhandle, allowing Gene and Esther to return home, and eventually settled in Pampa in 1972, where Gene eventually retired from the U.S. Geological Survey and where they lived ever since.

Gene was an active member of Zion Lutheran Church, where he served as Elder, Chairman of the Congregation, and his favorite duty of Usher.

Gene was preceded in death by a sister, Wanda Monroe; brother, HD McAdoo; and his beloved wife of 70 years, Esther Hildenbrand McAdoo.

Gene is survived by his daughter, Terri McAdoo Tonne and husband David of Edmond, Oklahoma; son, Brian McAdoo of Pampa; grandchildren, Rachel Jung of Midland, Texas, Rebecca Demel of Van Alstyne, Texas, Michael Tonne of Wink, Texas, and Ethan Tonne of Tulsa, Oklahoma. Gene was blessed with 9 exceptional great-grandchildren, Alec Jung, Landry Jung, Ainsley Demel, Bennett Demel, Taetum Demel, Jacob Tonne, Tyler Tonne, Levi Tonne, and Hunter Tonne.

In lieu of flowers, the family request memorials be made to Zion Lutheran Church, 1200 N. Duncan Street, Pampa, Texas, 79065.

Please sign the online register at www.carmichael-whatley.com.